Lehigh Rallies to Defeat Bison Men, 66-64 in Overtime

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Noah Williamson tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds and frontcourt mate Pip Ajayi scored a Bucknell-career-high 13 points off the bench, but the Bison dropped a 66-64 overtime verdict to Lehigh in the Patriot League opener on Thursday night at Stabler Arena. Nasir Whitlock scored 20 points for the Mountain Hawks, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 24 seconds remaining in OT, as the hosts completed a big comeback from 20 points down in the second half.

The Bison played some of their best basketball of the season in building a 49-29 lead with 11 minutes remaining, but they struggled offensively the rest of the way as foul trouble built up. Bucknell still led 57-53 after a Brandon McCreesh put-back with 1:15 to go. Lehigh tied it on a Whitlock baseline jumper with 25 seconds left, and Williamson couldn't convert two potential go-ahead free throws with four seconds remaining.

Playing overtime for a national-leading fifth time this season, Bucknell took a 64-62 lead on a 3-point play from Elvin Edmonds IV with 54 seconds to go. After a timeout, Keith Higgins Jr. missed a 3-pointer from the left corner, but Joshua Ingram grabbed the offensive rebound and kicked it over to Whitlock for the go-ahead trey.

Bascoe had his shot blocked on a drive and the ball was tied up on the rebound. Higgins made 1 of 2 at the foul line to make it 66-64 with 10.9 seconds left, and then Bascoe's contested 3-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out.

Williamson recorded his fourth double-double of the season, and Bascoe also reached double figures with 15 points to go with five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Ajayi 13 points were his most as a Bison after transferring from Mercyhurst, and he added five rebounds, three steals, and a blocked shot in 18 minutes.

Cam Gillus scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half, and Higgins finished with 15 for Lehigh (6-6, 1-0), which improved to 6-0 at home this season.

Both teams started the game 3-for-12 from the field, but it was the Bison who made the first decisive run. Williamson's layup off an inbounds play gave them a 14-13 lead and Bascoe followed with a 3-pointer. After a Gillus trey for Lehigh, Williamson scored again in the paint, Jayden Williams took a charge in the backcourt, and Bucknell was off and running on a 13-0 surge.

Ajayi scored back-to-back buckets, Williamson powered in for two, Bascoe canned another 3-pointer, and then Williamson pushed the ball off the defensive glass and found Bijiek for a layup to give the Bison a 30-16 lead.

Lehigh halted the run with two straight buckets before Elvin Edmonds IV beat the halftime buzzer with a 35-foot bank shot.

Gillus scored the first four points of the second half but the Bison shot back with the next nine in a row. Bascoe scored on two straight drives, and later he made a sweet dish to Ajayi for a jam. Williamson's offensive rebound and put-back gave Bucknell a 42-24 lead.

Achile Spadone answered a Higgins 3-pointer with one of his own, and Williamson's short jumper in the lane gave the Bison their first 20-point lead at 49-29 with 11:04 to go. It was all Lehigh from there, however, as the hosts outscored Bucknell 28-8 over the rest of regulation.

Bucknell shot 40.0 percent from the field on the night but hit just 5 of 18 from the arc and 11 of 20 at the foul line. Lehigh shot 33.8 percent overall and went 9-for-27 from the arc and 13-for-21 from the line.

Bucknell returns home for the first time in a month when Colgate visits Sojka Pavilion on Sunday at 2 p.m. It will be the 20th Annual Dirk Sojka's Slam Dunk with Bison Basketball, with proceeds benefiting Suncom Industries.

Lehigh Rallies to Defeat Bison Men, 66-64 in Overtime

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Team Stats

Noah Williamson

Josh Bascoe

Pip Ajayi

Elvin Edmonds IV

Players Mentioned

Pip Ajayi

Elvin Edmonds IV

Brandon McCreesh

Achile Spadone

Jayden Williams

Noah Williamson